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By Ousman Gaku

Besides, I sat this morning and continuously questioned “should the Gambia be threatened by the so-called Global Food Crisis as result of the Russia-Ukraine War?”. The answer to this is obviously No, we must not be threatened by any food shortage, although we live in a Global Village if the right policies and programs are in place.

In the Gambia, farming activities have been concentrated only in the rainy season which do not lasts for more than 4 months. How do we expect proceeds from a four-month farming season to serve the nation for the next 8 months? The Gambia is blessed with fertile lands that can allow a year-round continuous farming. What is the Ministry of Agriculture doing about this? What can the Ministry do about farming when located in Banjul or Greater Banjul Area?

We can employ the following strategies to ensure food self-sufficiency within a year:

1. Relocate the Ministry of Agriculture to the Lower River Region (LRR), preferably at Jenoi. LRR is strategically located which is bordered with West Coast Region (WCR), North Bank Region (NBR) and Central River Region (CRR). This will allow the ministry to oversee whole year agricultural activities in all the regions that concentrate on farming. The Upper River Region (URR) is at the far end but bordered with the Central River Region (CRR).

2. The Ministry of Agriculture should revise the Jahaly-Pachari Rice Production as soon as possible. This place has been strategic and employing irrigational facilitates to ensure all year-round rice production. The establishment was not just supplying food but employment to many youths and women from URR, CRR and LRR.

3. There are communities in the Upper River Region (URR) well known for rice production. There used to a whole year rice production in Kossemar locally called “Chinese” which I learnt is under revision to start production. This establishment according to elders of the communities used function throughout the year during Former President Jawara’s tenure. According to them, it was not just providing food but employment for people in the sub-region due to its proximity to Senegal, Mali and Guniea Bissau. Dampha Kunda also in the URR is well known for rice production and horticulture. Similar establishment will ensure employment and food production.

4. The Ministry should supply these communities and others with the necessary farming equipment, seeds, and technical supports. Their staff should be sent to reside with these farmers in giving them modern farming techniques.

Finally, South Korea through it is Embassy in Dakar has shown interest in farming ready to support the Gambia. It is good to know that we share the same staple food with South Korea (rice) in fact, Korean in most case take rice for the 3 meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) when we do for only lunch and dinner. The ministry should therefore work with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to expedite this process of partnership.